In recent years there has been great controversy on the use of genetically modified foods; sometimes referred to as genetically engineered foods or Genetically Modified Organisms – or “GMO”. This has particularly become a growing issue in the USA and Canada, and affects large portions of our food supply and potentially the health of everyone!

If you value your own and your family’s health, please read this important article that can protect and improve one’s health for years to come!

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What Are Genetically Modified Foods?

GMO foods are foods that have been modified from their original natural form as found in nature using genetic engineering techniques that alter the DNA structure of the food.

Genetically modified foods also include modification to livestock, and seafood products.

Why Is It Being Done?

These techniques allow for industry to introduce new desirable traits to foods. Examples include better resistance to pathogens, herbicides and to help improve the nutrients provided.

The underlying reason is to maximize production and sales of food. This includes:

Increasing the crop yields for farmers

Adds more nutritional value to crops

Reduces the need for pesticides

Helps to decrease food prices for consumers

Increase profits for food producers

Industry testing indicates it is safe for human consumption

What Foods Commonly Contain GMOs?

While browsing the isles at the grocery store, be on the look out for the most common foods that are likely to be genetically modified, unless otherwise labeled.

The most common foods include corn, soy, cotton (used to make cottonseed oil), papaya, rice, sugar beets (commonly used to make sugar), aspartame (a common artificial sweetener), tomatoes, rapeseed (used to make canola oil), milk/dairy products, potatoes, peas, yellow squash, zucchini, apples and alfalfa; in no particular order.

Note that this list applies to ANY products that are derived from these ingredients!

More recently animal based products such as salmon have begun to be introduced to Canadian and USA food supplies, without the necessity to label them as GMO foods.

Are Genetically Modified Foods A Problem?

There is lots of controversy on the use of GMOs. Some of the main concerns include:

Increasing Use Of Pesticides: Most GMOs are designed to require the use of pesticides and herbicides. Manufactures have suggested that use of GMOs would reduce the need for these chemicals. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case, with the use of pesticides/herbicides increasinginstead, according to this recent study.

Health Risks:According to Jeffrey Smith, a leading national expert on the dangers of GMOs, we don’t know for sure if modifying genes can lead to increased health risks including:

The possibility of releasing more allergens, toxins or the introduction of new diseases.

No Long Term Studies: The data is still not in as to the long term effects of genetically modified food consumption. It remains to be seen if it is truly safe for people to eat on a continuing basis. The FDA has not conducted such studies before approving the use of GMOs.

Environmental Impacts: Both GMO crops and the increased need of pesticides/herbicides negatively impact the environment. Increased use of pesticides and herbicides pollute the air, water and soil in which they are used. Use of GMOs cause cross-pollination issues with other plant life, destroying natural plant life, and causing additional unknown consequences and once they are introduced to an environment their effects are there to stay.Farmers and studies have also confirmed increasing numbers of superbugs and superweeds that are becoming more and more of a problem as a result of the use of GMOs.

What Can We Do?

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to know what food is in fact genetically modified. Due to new legislation and push from the industry giants, labeling of GMO foods is being allowed to be hidden from consumers who want to make an informed decision when buying food. As a result of corporate interests driving government policies, it is not required by law for foods to be explicitly labeled as genetically modified in the United States.

New law states that food must be identified using obscure methods such as a website address, QR code, or telephone number placed on food products. In Canada there are no requirements for labeling of GMO foods.

Here Are Some Tips to Help You Avoid GMO Foods

Buy GMO Free or Organic: Whenever possible buying foods marked as “organic” or “GMO free” can help. It should be noted that “organic” does not necessarily mean “GMO free”, however, items labeled as organic do need to be 95% GMO free.

Reduce Your Exposure: Limit your consumption of commonly affected foods or look for GMO-free versions. Especially for the most commonly affected foods (see the list of common GMO foods here).

Did you know that the eating processed foods is one of the leading causes of major health issues and weight problems? You may unknowingly be eating these unhealthy foods routinely. Find out how to reduce your consumption of these deadly foods. Do so and you can improve your wellbeing significantly, safeguarding your most precious asset – YOUR HEALTH!

You’ve likely heard the words “processed food” in the past, and perhaps don’t think of it much while browsing the isles at the grocery store each week.

You may be wondering “What are processed foods?”… Well, you can think of them as any food that is unnatural, or does not occur naturally in nature. This includes foods that have been altered from their original form by addition of additives, preservatives, hormones, vitamins and minerals, heat treatments (that destroy natural enzymes), fatty acids, chemicals or that contain genetically altered ingredients.

Why Do Processed Foods Exist?

There are several reasons including to prolong the shelf life of the food, “enhance” flavor, make the food more esthetically appealing, and in general to try to get you (the consumer) to buy more and reduce associated cost to the food producer. Most processed foods are design with convenience in mind, ahead of your wellbeing.

Types of Processed Foods

Browsing the grocery store, you’ll begin to recognize that more and more of the foods we eat today are processed in some form. We as consumers need to keep our eyes open when purchasing food. This includes reading labels. It’s our own responsibility to choose what we eat carefully and individually to take control of our own health – no one else will do it for us!

In general most foods that are packaged, canned, or in some cases frozen are very likely to be processed in some form. Many have a very long shelf life.

Soft drinks, or drinks with added sugar (including any of the refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, colorings or flavors)

Fast foods

Junk food

Processed meats

Frozen foods

Refined wheat flour, including bleached white flour

Boxed food items

Margarine and hydrogenated vegetable fat

Refined vegetable oil

Canned items

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Foods – Hint: By avoiding the foods listed above, it will help reduce your exposure to the ever increasing use of unnatural and potentially detrimental effects of genetically modified foods that are more commonly used in processed foods.

In addition to avoiding the foods listed above, whenever possible it’s advisable to eat organic products including produce, milk product and meets, as organic foods are subject to less processing and reduce to odds of the damaging effects of processed foods. The more processed foods you eat, the more you are subjecting your body to its dangers.

Before explaining the dangers, it should be noted that not all processed foods are bad food choices. Though it’s always preferable to eat fresh whole foods that resemble their most natural form, some processed foods can be eaten safely as part of a balanced diet, and/or in moderation. For example, frozen vegetables or fruits are not necessarily bad choices though fresh alternatives of course are healthier.

The processed foods that are of concern are more so the chemically processed foods.

What Are the Dangers of Processed Foods?

There’s no question you want to slash your risk of disease, improve your overall health and live a longer happier life. We all do, but most of us don’t take action and don’t realize the MOST EFFECTIVE way to achieve this is by paying closer attention to what we eat!

Studies confirm that the effects of processed foods are making us sicker, fatter and shortening our lives at increasing rates.

Processed foods generally contain high amounts of refined sugar and/or carbohydrates (see the list of “refined sugar” types above). This is a major concern, as the human body was never designed to eat so much sugar. Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to many diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even cancer. Consuming too much refined carbohydrates in general can also lead to issues such as insulin resistance; a precursor to many chronic diseases.

You are likely unaware of just how much sugar is in typical items you use regularly. Items that may not seem like they contain much sugar, in fact have very high amounts and it all adds up throughout the day.

On top of this, processed foods contain artificial ingredients such as preservatives, colorings and flavors that are designed in the interest of food manufactures, and not your health. Studies confirm that many of these have been linked to allergic reactions, cancer, and other diseases.

Another major issue is the amount of unhealthy fats, known as trans fats. These fats are commonly used in processed items, and has been linked to many health issues including heart disease.

These convenience foods also lead to one of the developing world’s biggest issues… obesity. Processed foods generally have much more calories vs natural alternatives and have less fiber content. This leads to eating too many of the wrong type of calories and in the end, weight gain.

“When we replace real, traditional foods like butter, meat and vegetables with crappy, processed junk foods, we get fat and sick. Real food is the key to good health, processed food is not. Period.”

Interestingly, recent studies on saturated fats and heart disease, show whole food sources such as eggs, dairy products, meats, etc. are healthy to eat and are not linked to heart problems; so long as trans fats are avoided.

Think twice when you eat processed foods – they’re more dangerous then they may seem.

What Should You Do?

Thankfully, there is an easy solution. All you need to remember is to buy mostly whole foods, and minimize processed items. Be mindful of what you are putting in your grocery cart.

Think of it this way: If it wasn’t in that form in nature, there’s a good chance it’s not the best food choice that your body was designed to eat.

An easy way to improve your health and avoid the dangers of processed food is to have a plan about what you will eat and to make meals from scratch at home. By doing so you avoid unhealthy purchases, and know without a doubt you are eating the right foods for optimal health and wellbeing.

If you would like help planning whole food meals please consider joining MealEasy. All of our meal plans are based on using unprocessed whole foods. You’ll see step-by-step how to make a huge variety of delicious healthy meals the easy way. Improve your diet significantly by giving it a try.

In today’s fast-paced life, we often don’t think about the true root cause of most of our health problems. More often than not it is the food we eat – no matter what conventional health care professionals tell you…

WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS AND IT HAS INCREDIBLE POWER TO CURE YOU OF THE WORST HEALTH CONDITIONS!

Recent studies have linked the food we eat to leading chronic diseases. What it also means is that the food we eat can also have a profound effect on our health!

Can Even Cancer Be Prevented Or In Some Cases Even Cured With The Food We Eat?

Yes it can. Just think about it! According to recent statistics, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women is expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is the dreaded word none of us want to hear from our doctors, but it’s just all too common.

Conventional medicine will have you believe that the front line approach is radiation, chemo, and surgery. The system is in place and will have you believe you have no control. Although success rates of some cancer treatments have improved, the success rate of many forms of cancer have not improved significantly over the years, and the conventional treatment for the other forms of cancer is often just as bad as the disease, due to the suffering induced from the treatment itself.

Doctors have good intentions, but are unaware of the effectiveness of alternative treatment choices. To learn more about alternative tried and proven cancer treatment alternatives please visit our trusted friends at The Truth About Cancer.

It turns out people are getting cured successfully and PERMANANTLY using natural methods that use food as a primary key form of medicine. In most cases, we bring on our own disease due to our lifestyle and in very large part due to what we eat.

Did you know recent studies have shown:

Eating just 10 grams or more per day of button mushrooms per day reduced breast cancer rates by about 64%! And by also drinking green tea reduced breast cancer rates by up to 89%! The results are incredible.

Berries contain ellagic acid and have been shown in lab studies to reduce esophageal cancer 30-70% and colon cancer rates by 80%! The research is encouraging to say the least.

Many patients have reversed their cancer diagnosis by following specifically designed diets, such as the well-established Gerson Therapy alone, primarily based on juicing and using natural nutrients to heal ones’ body.

Food has the power to heal us, IF we choose to use food as our medicine. We encourage you to be your own body’s “best doctor” and search for the truth about how to reverse and prevent cancer naturally – your doctor and/or the medical establishment are unaware that natural and effective treatments DO EXIST RIGHT NOW to cure even stage 4 cancer in some cases and this degree of cancer is typically thought to be incurable.

What About Heart Disease? Can It Be Cured Without Surgery?

YES – Absolutely! A large part of reversing heart conditions is related to our lifestyle and in particular our diet.

Eat the right food and follow a healthy lifestyle and you may not need surgery, even if your surgeon told you that it’s imperative and urgent! A bold and profound statement, but read on…

Dr. Julian Whitakar is the author of author of Reversing Heart Disease, Reversing Diabetes, and Reversing Hypertension and founder / past president of the American Preventive Medical Association. He states “bypass surgery does not prevent heart attacks or save lives in close to 90 percent of people who receive it”, a 1977 study showed no benefits, though it’s still blindly being done today!

Let’s stop and consider safer common sense options, before we fall victims of the routine and established practice to cut first, and consider “alternative” approaches second. Freedom of choice applies to choices we make when it comes to our health. Consider alternatives when a conventional medical treatment is offered. Alternative treatments do exist and often the results are profound and superior to the conventional options. Educating ourselves and finding a practitioner we can trust can save our life.

It is, therefore, imperative to adopt a well-balanced diet to prevent or control diabetes. Whether you have pre diabetes or type 2 diabetes, here are simple ways to embrace a healthy diet:

What constitutes a healthy diet

A healthy diet entails a variety of foods. The key is to eat smarter. Try to consume a wide range of food items that are full of quality nutrients. Last, but not least, keep an eye on your portion size.

Vegetables

Increase your consumption of raw or cooked vegetables. Vegetables consist of minerals, vitamins, fiber and phytochemicals. They also have few calories and carbohydrate. The best choices include non-starchy veggies, such as carrots, celery and cucumber. Most of these items are available all year around.

Similarly, green vegetables have been associated with decreasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Fiber-rich foods

Protein

A balanced diet includes protein. But choose your protein carefully. This is because some protein sources have a lot of saturated fat. Your best choices are fish, plant-based protein, cheese and eggs, and chicken and other poultry. Remember to consider your portion size.

Sweets, carbs and fats

The human body needs carbs, whether you have diabetes or not. Carbohydrates affect the blood sugar level. They create glucose that enters the bloodstream.

The type and quantity of carbohydrates you choose will have an impact on your diabetic condition. Stick to high-fiber complex carbohydrates. Since they are digested slowly, they prevent your body from producing too much insulin.Moreover, limit your consumption of refined carbohydrates –pasta, rice, soda, packaged meals, among many others.

Despite its unlimited benefits, healthy food is considered to be more expensive. According to a study by Cambridge University, healthy food costs three times as much as consuming unhealthy food.

Soshould we use this to justify eating the “unhealthy” food that is often not even fit for human consumption? We also need to ask ourselves if our health is worth the savings and then, should we be even comparing? There are huge savings to be realized by making our own meals, which by far outweighs the “additional” cost for the “healthy” food.

Let’s look at it this way: Would you put cheap oil in your car’s engine to save $20.00, if you knew it could cost you $600 in repairs down the road? And here we are talking about our health, not a car engine.

If money is still an issue, there are plenty of practical ways to reduce expenses.

Here are 5 tips that can help you eat well-balanced foods on a budget:

Buy seasonal produce

Purchase seasonal food to save money. Not only do seasonal fruits and vegetables taste better, they often cost less than off-season items. Since seasonal produce is in abundant supply, it costs less than foods that are out of season.It’s a good idea to stock up on these items.

Buy in bulk

Another great way to save money and time is to purchase food in bulk. Although bulk purchases entail a hefty cost, it really saves money in the long run.

Buy seasonal produce and grains in bulk, whenever possible. Make sure to store them properly in air-tight containers, so that they don’t go bad.

Similarly, you can purchase large quantities of meat and then freeze or use smaller portions for use later on.

Use leftovers

Try to cook large portions. If you are left with leftovers, don’t discard anything. You can reuse dinner leftovers as a scrumptious homemade lunch. Furthermore, you won’t have to make multiple meals throughout the day.

You can even freeze your dinner leftovers and then reheat them later on as convenient lunches or dinners. To help you with this, MealEasy meal plans show you which meals are freezable.

Eat more beans and whole grains

Try to eat more beans and whole grains than meat. Black beans are packed with folic acid, fiber and potassium. They cost $0.30 per 1/2 cup or $1.50 per can. Moreover, quinoa and brown rice are delicious yet economical healthy food items. Purchase these items in bulk. You can use them immediately or store them for later use.

Plan and prep meals

Most importantly, plan your meals ahead of time, to help you not only to balance your nutrition, but also to balance your budget.

Planning ahead not only gives peace of mind knowing what your next meal is going to be,but by having a shopping list generated as part of the plan,you will avoid spontaneous purchases that can add to the cost of groceries,for food you don’t really need.

For the most efficient online meal planner, we have got you covered. MealEasy provides an array of low-cost meal plans to help families save on groceries and the cost of unhealthy eating. To keep your costs down, MealEasy indicates which meals are lowest cost, while ensuring they are healthy. In addition, the online portal features other meal plans, which include heart-healthy meal plans, and vegetarian meal plans – among others.

But planning and sticking to a balanced diet is easier said than done. In order to assist you, here are 5 tips you should follow:

Simplify your meals

Don’t obsess over calories at this point. Instead, choose foods and drinks based on freshness and variety. Eating a variety of foods will ensure that you get all nutrients and vitamins. Moreover, it will limit your exposure to harmful substances in a particular food.

Similarly, opt for fresh ingredients. Avoid processed food as they contain toxic ingredients that are detrimental to your health.

Plan and prepare meals in advance

Develop a workable game plan. Be realistic. Plan and prepare your meals accordingly.

Take advantage of MealEasy’s eating plans to cook scrumptious, yet wholesome, meals on time and within your budget.

You can use MealEasy’s balanced meal plan to search for recipes, track nutritional values, shop for ingredients and prepare meals based on your individual preferences and health and dietary goals.

Rotate your meals

Alongside meal planning, try to mix up your meals to prevent boredom. Also remember to experiment with a variety of healthy ingredients.

For example, if you want to add greens to your meal, think beyond lettuce or broccoli. There are plenty of other options to choose from, such as Chinese cabbage and Kale.